Harvard University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, will pay $53 million (about R860 million) to settle claims after a former morgue manager stole and sold body parts that had been donated for scientific research.
A Boston court approved the settlement plan on Tuesday, US media reported.
Cedric Lodge, who managed the morgue at Harvard Medical School before being dismissed in 2023, was sentenced to eight years in prison in December after pleading guilty to trafficking stolen human remains.
Investigators found that Lodge and his wife Denise took body parts from the school “without the knowledge or permission of his employer, the donor, or the donor’s family” and shipped them to buyers in other states from 2018 onwards.
Harvard University announced in a letter on Monday that it will seek court permission to establish “two class action settlement funds totalling $53 million”.
“We are grateful to be working together with the plaintiffs to move forward in a way that prioritises support for families and the (organ donation programme) and avoids prolonged litigation,” the letter stated.
The letter was co-signed by Harvard Medical School Dean George Daley and Bernard Chang, dean for medical education.
The deans said Lodge’s violations “were despicable, abhorrent, and a flagrant betrayal of our values as a medical community”.
“We reaffirm our deep sorrow and empathy for the families of donors who may have been impacted,” they added.
Harvard said the distribution of settlement funds is expected to take several months.
Lodge’s wife Denise was sentenced to one year in prison earlier. Six other co-conspirators who bought remains from Lodge have also pleaded guilty and received sentences.
The Harvard Medical School will establish an annual financial aid scholarship starting in the 2027-28 academic year “in appreciation and in honour of all of our anatomical donors”, the school said.
The settlement plan also includes a pledge by the school to provide a statement to the claimant families condemning Lodge’s criminal acts and to detail improvements made to the organ donation programme.
